Maduro adds – Nicolás Maduro strengthened his legal team by bringing in attorney Anna Estevao, who previously represented Sean “Diddy” Combs in his Manhattan criminal trial, after Maduro’s lead attorney Barry Pollack joined Harris Trzaskoma LLP. Estevao’s arrival follows ac
Nicolás Maduro’s defense team grew on Thursday, adding one of the lawyers behind a high-profile Manhattan courtroom victory—and the timing felt deliberate.
Anna Estevao, an attorney who represented Sean “Diddy” Combs in his blockbuster criminal trial last year, joined the former Venezuelan president’s defense team on Thursday. The move came after Maduro’s lead attorney, Barry Pollack, joined Estevao’s law firm, Harris Trzaskoma LLP.
The firm made Pollack’s addition public earlier this week. describing him as a lawyer best known for representing Julian Assange. and also bringing in Susan Hoffinger. a renowned trial lawyer who was part of the Manhattan district attorney’s prosecution team that won a 34-count fraud conviction of Donald Trump before he was elected president for the second time.
Pollack said he joined Harris Trzaskoma LLP because of the firm’s lawyers and their ability to handle “novel legal issues and complex challenges. ” including in Maduro’s case. “This is a truly unprecedented situation. and there will certainly be a robust defense. and joining this firm is going to give me the resources to assist President Maduro in every way we can. ” Pollack said.
Estevao’s courtroom experience is tightly linked to the Combs trial she previously handled in Manhattan. In that case, she played a key role, cross-examining Combs’ main accuser, Cassie Ventura. The jury acquitted Combs of the most severe charges—racketeering and sex-trafficking—but convicted him of two prostitution-related charges. Combs is appealing his conviction and 4-year sentence.
Estevao told MISRYOUM she was excited to work with her new colleagues on high-profile and challenging cases.
At the same time, the legal pressure on Maduro has been building in U.S. court. Justice Department prosecutors have accused Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, of narco-terrorism and weapons charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.
The proceedings are overseen by US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein and have taken place in the same 26th-floor courtroom as Combs’ trial. Both Combs and Maduro were also housed in the same federal jail in Brooklyn, though not at the same time.
Theresa Trzaskoma. who cofounded Harris Trzaskoma LLP last year with Estevao. Justine Harris. and Allegra Noonan. said Pollack and Hoffinger were “kindred spirits” with other attorneys at the firm. “It is exciting to have lawyers who can take on all kinds of cases,” she said. “Difficult, hard, challenging cases for high-profile clients and others who are facing really difficult circumstances.”.
Even without changing the charges, the staffing shift signals how Maduro’s team wants to meet a complex U.S. case head-on—by importing lawyers who have already navigated the glare of federal trial and the momentum of a Manhattan courtroom.
Nicolás Maduro Anna Estevao Barry Pollack Harris Trzaskoma LLP Sean Diddy Combs Cassie Ventura Alvin Hellerstein Cilia Flores narco-terrorism weapons charges Julian Assange Susan Hoffinger Donald Trump fraud conviction
Wait so Maduro hired Diddy’s lawyer?? That sounds like some soap opera stuff.
This is insane timing, like they picked lawyers just to delay everything. Also Diddy lawyer doesn’t mean anything right? but it feels suspicious.
So they’re saying the same attorney who crossed Cassie Ventura is now defending Maduro? I mean, cross-exam skills transfer, sure, but I don’t get why they mention Trump’s fraud conviction lawyer too… like that’s supposed to convince me or what.
I saw a headline about “Diddy” and immediately assumed Maduro was like… chilling with him or something. But it’s just the lawyer. Still, how is this even legal like the whole team swap on Thursday? feels planned. Also they say the jury acquitted him of racketeering so wouldn’t that be good for Maduro? not sure what the article wants me to think.